September 1, 2026
ST. LOUIS —The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) announced its 2026-2027 Advisory Panel. Bringing together expertise across myopia research, clinical practice, professional education and public health, the panel will provide guidance to support GMAC’s mission to raise global awareness of childhood myopia and encourage informed action.
The Advisory Panel
The following experts have been appointed to the 2026-2027 GMAC Advisory Panel:
- Olga Prenat – Global Head of Medical and Professional Affairs, EssilorLuxottica; Chair, GMAC Advisory Panel Committee and GMAC Board Member (France)
- Annegret Dahlmann-Noor, Dr Med, PhD, FRCOphth, FRCS(Ed), DipMedEd – Professor of Paediatric Ophthalmology, University College London (United Kingdom)
- Elena García Rubio, OD, MSc, FBCLA, — Co-founder of National Institute of Vision, co-founder of visual health program of SOLCIOE in Spain; Chief Clinical Officer at Promethei. IMI ambassador.
- Ian Flitcroft, MA, MBBS, DPhil – Consultant Ophthalmologist, Mater Misericordiae Hospital; Adjunct Professor of Vision Science, Technological University Dublin; Co-Founder, Ocumetra (Ireland)
- Kate Gifford, PhD, BAppSc (Optom) Hons, GCOT, FBCLA, FIACLE, FCCLSA, FAAO – Optometrist, Clinician-Scientist and Co-Founder and Director of Myopia Profile (Australia)
- Li-Lian Foo, MD, FRCOphth, MMed (Ophth), GDFM, BEng (First Class Honours) – President, Myopia Society of Singapore; Clinical Director, Myopia Service, and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Singapore National Eye Centre; Clinical Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School (Singapore)
- Thomas Aller, OD, FBCLA – Myopia Researcher, Inventor and Clinical Optometrist (United States)
Photo provided by GMAC
GMAC Leaders Welcome New Advisory Panel
“We are delighted to welcome this exceptional group of experts to the 2026 GMAC Advisory Panel,” said Meredith Bishop, OD, MS, GMAC Board Chair and Director, Global Medical Education, Vision at Johnson & Johnson. “Their contributions will help GMAC reach more families with clear, accessible information about childhood myopia, the importance of regular eye examinations and the value of early, informed action.”
“Addressing childhood myopia requires scientifically and clinically relevant communication that resonates across diverse populations,” said Olga Prenat, Global Head of Medical and Professional Affairs at EssilorLuxottica and Chair of the 2026 GMAC Advisory Panel Committee. “The breadth of perspectives represented on the panel will strengthen GMAC’s ability to develop awareness initiatives that are globally relevant and responsive to different regional contexts.”
Spreading GMAC’s Mission
The Advisory Panel will support GMAC’s efforts to engage healthcare associations, eyecare professionals, parents and other stakeholders, while providing guidance on evidence-based initiatives that increase understanding of the growing prevalence and potential consequences of childhood myopia.
Further information about each Advisory Panel member can be found in the annex. For more information on the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition, visit myopiaawareness.org.
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